During the past decade, an increasing demand for wildlife products has caused the illegal trade in animals and plants to skyrocket. Wildlife trafficking has become a multibillion-dollar industry, involving hundreds of millions of plants and animals that are sold as medicine, pets, food, souvenirs, and luxury items each year.

The black market poses grave threats to wildlife—and to people in places such as central Africa, where the proceeds from wildlife trafficking have been used to finance terrorism. And it’s becoming increasingly organized, similar to the crime syndicates involved in the drug trade.

As part of our commitment to help protect wildlife by educating and inspiring others to bring about change, National Geographic reporters, explorers, and photographers have journeyed around the world